Railroad-joint.



No. 879.475. PATENTED FEB. 1a, 1908.

'J. H. KOGHENDBRPBR.

RAILROAD JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Jahzflflwimdv'i; WITNESSES f/VVE/VTOR i 4 By I A froze/v5 ys No. 879,475. v PATENTED.FEB.18,1908.' J. 11.. KOGHENDBRFER.

RAILROAD JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED my 1 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y5 UNITED sra'rns PATENT orrroa.

JOHN H. KOOHENDERFER, or GALION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO w. E. HUGHES, OF CLYDE, OHIO.

RAILROAD-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed May 1. 1607. Serial No. 371.246.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. KOCI-IEN- DERFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galion, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Joint, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad joints, more particularly to the fish plates by means of which the ends of abutting rails are connected together; and the principal object of the invention is to support from below the abutting ends of two rails, especially when the joint comes between cross ties, and to prevent the rails from separating vertically by the downward bending of one of the rail ends from heavy trafiic. The two rail ends being thus separated vertically are liable to rapid deterioration of ends of the rails by reason of the blow which the highest end of the oint receives from the rapid motion of the wheels of a train. This separation also sets up an unpleasant jarring motion in the cars passing thereover, which is very disagreeable and unpleasant to passengers; and the liability of accident is also present when the ends of car rails are out of alinement.

For the purpose of overcoming the defects above noted, the fish plates by which the ends of the rails are oined, and which are the same now in use with the additionhereinafter described, have formed on their lower edges, plates, which pass beneath the rails at the joint and support the abutting end of the rail, the aforesaid plates being rigidly bolted to each other.

With this and other Objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railroad joint with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the improved fish plates. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the rail joint. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sections illustrating other modifications. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are perspective sectional views of further modifications of the rail joint.

Similar numerals ofreference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The numerals l and 2 represent the abutting ends of said rails united by fish plates 3 and 4 secured to said rails by the usual screw bolts 5 and as this form of connection so far recited is the one used in railroad construc tion at the present day a more detailed recital will be unnecessary.

Extending inwardly from the lower edge of the fish plate at about the center of its length is a plate 6 perpendicularly disposed with relation to the inner side of the fish plate and when applied to the rails lies in close contact with the under side of the bottom flange. The length of the plate 6 is slightly less than the width of'the bottom of the rail, as clearly represented in Fig. 2. Each fish plate is provided with a plate 6 similarly disposed thereon and of the same shape so that when two of such plates as 3,

4 are applied to the ends of adjacent rails the horizontal plates 6 will extend under the bases of said rails and close to each other, a slight space 7 separating them to provide for expansion. plates 6 extend diagonally across the bottom of the rails as shown, so that each plate will afi ord support to the ends of both rails. On the free end of each plate 6 is a depending lug 8, perpendicular to said plate, a similar lug 9 is also formed on the fish plate opposite to and in line with the lug 8 attached to the plate 6 of the opposite fish plate. A bolt 10 joins the adjacent lugs 8 and 9 and holds each plate 6 firmly secured to the fish plate carrying the opposite plate. As thus constructed, the two plates 6, each forming a part of a fish plate and rigidly joined to the other fish plate, form a strong, solid and firm support for the meeting ends of two rails, and as these plates lie in close contact with the under surface of the bottom flange of said rails the ends of the rails cannot be depressed even when they are situated between two ties, as represented in Fig. 1. The lugs 8 and 9 are separated slightly to draw the plates 6 close against the rails, the space between them being filled by a washer 11.

Vhile the opposin edges of the bottom plates 6 are shown as lying diagonally to the length of the rail, it is to be distinctly understood that they may assume any other direction, and instead of these opposing edges The opposing edges of the the rail the number may be increased or the entire width of the plate may be turned down and a flange of equal length formed on the fish plate through which parts a series of bolts may be passed. This form of joint is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, which represents the two plates 6 turned down or flanged at 12 for their entire width, and abutting a ainst extensions 13 on the opposite fish p ate; bolts 10 passing through said parts to firmly unite them. The extensions 13 are also turned under the flanges 12 to afford additional support. With this form of connection the opposing edges of the plates 6 are shown as extending transversely across the rails in line with their abutting ends.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the plates 6 extend only I to the edges of the base flanges of the rail where they are embraced by flanges 14 on the opposite fish plates. In addition to this fastening lugs 15 on the plates 6 may extend through openings in the flanges 14. See

In Fig. 9' the plates 6 extend beyond the flanges of the rails in a straight line and are bolted to lugs 16 on the fish plates. Fig. 10 illustrates how lugs 17 on the plates 6 may be turned up and be bolted to upwardly extending lugs 18 on the fish plates. In these two latter forms the ties do not have to be cut-for the lugs should a rail joint be just over a tie. each fish plate extends under the rails to the center. No other fastening is used with this construction than the ordinary fastening bolts 5.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A rail-road joint comprising two fish plates for connecting the ends of abutting In Fig. 11 the entire length of rails, each plate having an independent integrally formed support extending beneath and across the rails in contact with the bottom flanges thereof, and a connecting lug on each support and the opposite fish plate.

2. A rail-road joint comprising two fish plates for connecting the ends of abutting rails, an inwardly extending plate integral with each of said fish plates and adapted to extend beneath and across the bottom flanges of the abutting ends of two rails, a lug on the extreme end of each plate, and a cooperating lug on the fish plate adjacent the end of said plate.

3. A fish plate for rail-road joints provided on its lower edge with an inwardly extending plate adapted to pass beneath and wholly across the bottom flange of a rail and having a lug extending from the edge of the fish plate adjacent the cross plate.

4. A fish plate for rail-road joints provided on its lower edge near its longitudinal center with an inwardly extending plate perpendicular to the side of the fish late and adapted to pass entirely and who ly across the bottom flange of the rail, a lug on the'ex- 'treme end of said perpendicular plate, and a lug on the fish plate adjacent the connection of said perpendicular plate thereto.

5. A fish plate for railroad joints provided on its lower edge near its longitudinal center with an inwardly extending plate perpendicular to the side of said fish plate and having a downwardly extending lug and a lug extending downwardly from the fish plate near the junction therewith of the inwardly extending late. p In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. KOCHENDERFER. Witnesses:

WV. J. GEEK, CLIo KREITER. 

